poems and songs-第8章
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Ah！ you look but do not answer while I halt and question here；
Wondering why I am so happy； doubting that you are so near。
Sure these eyes with love are blinded； for your form is waxing faint；
And a dreamy splendour crowns it； like the halo round a saint！
When I talk of what we will be； and new aspirations throng；
Why are you so sadly silent； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong？''
But she faded into sunset； and the sunset passed from sight；
And I followed madly after； through the misty； moony night；
Crying； ‘‘do not leave me lonely！ Life has been so cold and drear；
You are all that God has left me； and I want you to be near！
Do not leave me in the darkness！ I have walked a weary way；
Listening for your truant footsteps … turn and stay； my darling； stay！''
But she came not though I waited； watching through a splendid haze；
Where the lovely Phantom halted ere she vanished from my gaze。
Then I thought that rain was falling； for there rose a stormy song；
And I woke in gloom and tempest； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong！
Page： 45
WATCHING
LIKE a beautiful face looking ever at me
A pure bright moon cometh over the sea；
And I stand on the crags； and hear the falls
Go tumbling down； through the black river…walls；
And the heart of the gorge is rent with the cry
Of the pent…up winds in their agony！
You are far from me； dear； where I watch and wait；
Like a weary bird for a long…lost mate；
And my life is as dull as the sluggish stream
Feeling its way through a world of dream；
For here is a waste of darkness and fear；
And I call and I call； but no one will hear！
O darling of mine； do you ever yearn
For a something lost； which will never return？
O darling of mine； on the grave of dead Hours；
Do you feel； like me； for a handful of flowers？
Through the glens of the Past； do you wander along；
Like a restless ghost that hath done a wrong？
And； lying alone； do you look from the drouth
Of a thirsty Life with a pleading mouth？
When the rain's on the roof； and the gales are abroad；
Do you wash with your tears the feet of your God？
Oh！ I know you do； and he sitteth alone；
Your wounded Love； while you mourn and moan …
Oh！ I know you do； and he never will leap
From his silence with smiles； while you weep … and weep！
Your coolness shake down； ye gathered green leaves；
For my spirit is faint with the love that it grieves！
Is there aught on the summit； O yearner through Night；
Aught on the summit which looks like the light；
When my soul is a…wearied and lone in the land；
Groping around will it touch a kind hand？
There are chasms between us as black as a pall；
But bring us together； O God over all！
And let me cast from me these fetters of Fear；
When I hear the glad singing of Faith so near；
For I know by the cheeks； which are pallid and wet；
And a listening life we shall mingle yet！
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Oh！ then I will turn to those eloquent eyes；
And clasp thee close； with a sweet surprise；
And a guest will go in by the heart's holy door；
And the chambers of Love shall be left no more。
THE OPOSSUM…HUNTERS
HEAR ye not the waters beating where the rapid rivers； meeting
With the winds above them fleeting； hurry to the distant seas；
And a smothered sound of singing from old Ocean upwards springing；
Sending hollow echoes ringing like a wailing on the breeze？
For the tempest round us brewing； cometh with the clouds pursuing；
And the bright Day； like a ruin； crumbles from the mournful trees。
When the thunder ceases pealing； and the stars up heaven are stealing；
And the Moon above us wheeling throws her pleasant glances round；
From our homes we boldly sally 'neath the trysting tree to rally；
For a night…hunt up the valley； with our brothers and the hound！
Through a wild…eyed Forest； staring at the light above it glaring；
We will travel； little caring for the dangers where we bound。
Twisted boughs shall tremble o'er us； hollow woods shall moan before us；
And the torrents like a chorus down the gorges dark shall sing；
And the vines shall shake and shiver； and the startled grasses quiver；
Like the reeds beside a river in the gusty days of Spring；
While we forward haste delighted； through a region seldom lighted …
Souls impatient； hearts excited … like a wind upon the wing！
Oh！ the solemn tones of Ocean； like the language of devotion；
Or a voice of deep emotion； wander round the evening scene。
Oh！ the ragged shadows cluster where； my brothers； we must muster
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Ere the warm moon lends her lustre to the cedars darkly green；
And the lights like flowers shall blossom； in high Heaven's kindly bosom；
While we hunt the wild opossum； underneath its leafy screen；
Underneath the woven bowers； where the gloomy night…hawk cowers；
Through a lapse of dreamy hours； in a stirless solitude！
And the hound … that close beside us still will stay whate'er betide us …
Through a 'wildering waste shall guide us …
through a maze where few intrude；
Till the game is chased to cover； till the stirring sport is over；
Till we bound； each happy rover； homeward down the laughing wood。
Oh； the joy in wandering thither； when fond friends are all together
And our souls are like the weather … cloudless； clear and fresh and free！
Let the sailor sing the story of the ancient ocean's glory；
Forests golden； mountains hoary … can he look and love like we？
Sordid worldling； haunt thy city with that heart so hard and gritty！
There are those who turn with pity when they turn to think of thee！
IN THE DEPTHS OF THE FOREST
IN the depths of a Forest secluded and wild；
The night voices whisper in passionate numbers；
And I'm leaning again； as I did when a child；
O'er the grave where my father so quietly slumbers。
The years have rolled by with a thundering sound
But I knew； O ye woodlands； affection would know it；
And the spot which I stand on is sanctified ground
By the love that I bear to him sleeping below it。
Page： 48
Oh！ well may the winds with a saddening moan
Go fitfully over the branches so dreary；
And well may I kneel by the time…shattered stone；
And rejoice that a rest has been found for the weary。
TO CHARLES HARPUR
I WOULD sit at your feet for long days；
To hear the sweet Muse of the Wild
Speak out through the sad and the passionate lays
Of her first and her favourite Child。
I would sit at your feet； for my soul
Delights in the solitudes free；
And I stand where the creeks and the cataracts roll
Whensoever I listen to thee！
I would sit at your feet； for I love
By the gulches and torrents to roam；
And I long in this city for woodland and grove；
And the peace of a wild forest home。
I would sit at your feet； and we'd dwell
On the scenes of a long…vanished time；
While your thoughts into music would surge and would swell
Like a breeze of our beautiful clime。
I would sit at your feet； for I know；
Though the World in the Present be blind；
That the amaranth blossoms of Promise will blow
When the Ages have left you behind。
I would sit at your feet； for I feel
I am one of a glorious band
That ever will own you and hold you their Chief；
And a Monarch of Song in the land！
Page： 49
THE RIVER AND THE HILL
And they shook their sweetness out in their sleep；
On the brink of that beautiful stream；
But it wandered along with a wearisome song
Like a lover that walks in a dream：
So the roses blew
When the winds went through；
In the moonlight so white and so still；
But the river it beat
All night at the feet
Of a cold and flinty hill …
Of a hard and senseless hill！
I said； ‘‘We have often showered our loves
Upon something as dry as the dust；
And the faith that is crost； and the hearts that are lost …
Oh！ how can we wittingly trust？
Like the stream which flows；
And wails as it goes；
Through the moonlight so white and so still；
To beat and to beat
All night at the feet
Of a cold and flinty hill …
Of a hard and senseless hill？
‘‘River； I stay where the sweet roses blow；
And drink of their pleasant perfumes！
Oh； why do you moan； in this wide world alone；
When so much affection here blooms？
The winds wax faint；
And the Moon like a Saint
Glides over the woodlands so white and so still！
But you beat and you beat
All night at the feet
Of that cold and flinty hill …
Of that hard and senseless hill！''
Page： 50
THE FATE OF THE EXPLORERS
（A Fragment）
SET your face toward the darkness … tell of deserts weird and wide；
Where unshaken woods are huddled； and low； languid waters glide；
Turn and tell of deserts lonely； lying pathless； deep and vast；
Where in utter silence ever Time seems slowly breathing past …
Silence only broken when the sun is flecked with cloudy bars；
Or when tropic squalls come hurtling underneath the sultry stars！
Deserts thorny； hot and thirsty； where the feet of men are strange；
And eternal Nature sleeps in solitudes which know no change。
Weakened with their lengthened labours； past long plains of stone and sand；
Down those trackless wilds they wandered； travellers from a far…off land；
Seeking now to join their brothers； struggling on with faltering feet；
For a glorious work was finished； and a noble task complete。
And they dreamt of welcome faces … dreamt that soon unto their ears
Friendly greetings would be thronging； with a nation's well…earned cheers；
Since their courage never failed them； but with high； unflinching soul
Each was pressing forward； hoping； trusting all should reach the goal。
。
。
。
。
。
Though he rallied in the morning； long before the close of day
He had sunk； the worn…out hero； fainting； dying by the way！
But w
